John Maxwell would be proud of the Florida Carpenters Regional Council’s
members. They not only emulated, but also demonstrated his quote’s
truthfulness by choosing to keep the momentum for growth and success on track at
the recent Council officer election.

James Banks, Jr. is charged with executing
another term as Executive Secretary-Treasurer. He is joined by Council leaders
in these offices:

To put the importance of this election in perspective, consider where the
Council stood a few short years ago, compared to today. For many years, the
FLCRC did not experience the success that many hoped for. Although we survived,
we were unable to expand or grow. We lost membership, contractors, and market
share. The future looked dim.

But In 2013, that forecast began to change with the election of a new Executive
Secretary-Treasurer (EST), Brother James Banks. From the moment EST Banks took
office, and with the full support of the staff and membership, we began to inch
our way forward toward achieving the goals of growing membership, expanding our
contractor base, securing solid financial footing, improving our insurance and
retirement programs.

Decisions were made for the full benefit of the council and membership. In
return, we began to realize what our true potential looked like. We began to
function and operate again as a full-service, fraternal organization. Members
began to understand and actively support the plan for success. We began to see
increases in our market share. EST Banks also made strategic personnel changes
and we began to see relationships restored and enhanced with our contractors.
And we built new partnerships with several new signatory contractors.

UBC DVP Dennis Donahou

Hard Work Turns Industry Heads

In a recent address to industry executives, UBC Southern District Vice President
Dennis Donahou spoke of the progress the FLCRC experienced over the past four
years, and his confidence in the Council’s leadership.

“I have witnessed a complete turnaround of the Florida Carpenters
Regional Council under the direction of Executive Secretary-Treasurer James
Banks and his professional staff. Florida is poised to experience tremendous
growth, both with new membership and expansion of its contractor base. I’m
extremely proud of their progress,” DVP Donahou said.

The Council is aggressively engaged in member recruitment throughout Florida for
individuals who have demonstrated their competency as carpenters in the
non-union sector.

“Through our evaluation processes, we will slot them in as apprentices or
journeymen, thereby delivering on our mission to provide highly qualified
carpenters to our contractor base,” EST Banks added. “This newly
elected leadership team is positioned to not only secure work for now, but they
are totally committed to growing membership and market share, and improving
contractor relationships well into the future.”

The Council is also branching out into emerging markets, while yet continuing to
grow market share in interior systems, healthcare, pile driving, concrete forms,
industrial scaffolding, and most of all, solar power generation.

FLCRC EST James Banks

Our Membership Makes the Difference

The success over the last four years may have been steered by our leadership
team, but nothing our Council has accomplished could have occurred without the
hard work and determination of our members.

“The past four years have been a testament to the hard work, hard
decisions, and hard changes that our members have endured, and that dedication
to improvement is now paying off,” said EST Banks. “Our contractors
are securing more work than ever before.”

It is our membership that accepted new ideas from their leaders and made them a
reality. It is our membership that stayed loyal, dependable, and willing to take
on the hard jobs. Members consistently demonstrate their willingness to accept
challenges and the dangerous conditions some of these jobs bring, and then
perform those tasks at the highest level of quality, and with ultimate
professionalism. It’s truly an inspiring site.

The trust that this leadership team has in the members provides a level of
confidence that supports the risk of venturing into emerging markets, creating
dialogue with new signatory contractors, and developing new training modules.

“My pledge to every member and all of our signatory contractors is that
the Council staff and I will wake every morning for the next four years with a
unshakeable determination and commitment to improve work opportunities and
conditions so that each member can adequately provide for themselves and their
families,” EST Banks said.

Day in and day out, the membership of the Florida Carpenters Regional Council
has proven that they are ready, willing, and able to pursue market share with
passion, professionalism, and perseverance. Our members are the best in the UBC,
and the decisions they made at the August election clearly make a statement to
the fact that Florida is Building Strong & Leading the Way.”